WHILE Silsden were out of league action, blasting their way to an 8-0 win in the County Cup, Embsay took advantage to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

Their 3-3 draw with Skipton Bulldogs was enough to pull out a three point gap.

Oxenhope Recreation are beginning to move up the table and collected two points in a home victory over Cononley Sports. The Worth Valley side played some lively football and were soon in command and it was not long before Steven Murray was on target for the first goal.

More pressure brought the second strike from Steve Buckley and Cononley were struggling, although they did create a few chances with causing any real problems for the Oxenhope keeper.

The points were virtually in the bag for Oxenhope when Danny Mitchell made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time, but they sat back an allowed Cononley to pull a goal back in the second half. David Collier quickly restored the three goal advantage, but Cononley continued battling and added a second to give the score some respectability.

Haworth played their first home game for weeks, and the lay-off showed in a poor first half as they went two goals down to Cowling's attacking style of football. Rob Walker gave them the lead and Haworth conceded an own goal as the pressure began to tell. In the second half Cowling sat back on their lead and once Haworth were awarded a penalty their game started to take off.

Matt Gilmartin cracked the ball home from the spot and within minutes Haworth were level thanks to Simon Thompson and Gilmartin added another to take his side into the lead. Michael Thompson ended all hopes of a Cowling fight back with a fourth goal.

Keighley and Cross Hills matched each other goal for goal in an even first half. The Keighley outfit opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Adam Smith put Hills back on level terms before the break.

After the interval the younger and fitter Cross Hills side used their pace to advantage. Nicholas Shaw volleyed home and a good move by Steve Barraclough brought another goal for Smith. Many chances were missed before substitute Ian Craven made it 4-1. Keighley had their chances in the second half, but failed to convert them and looked second best towards the end.

In Division One Oxenhope Reserves visited Skipton LMS in a rearranged fixture and struggled to turn out a good side due to injuries. A heavy pitch saw them stick to their task as they tried to contain the LMS forwards in a goalless first half. LMS marched into the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Oxenhope had to attack and created a couple of good chances, but let them slip, and conceded a second goal - and the points - midway through the half.

Division Two leaders Bronte Wanderers entertained Skipton LMS Reserves and found the young side a hard nut to crack. Defences were on top in the opening stages until a good ball out of defence from Hartas found Niall Walls who took the ball round the keeper.

Bronte began to play some fluent football and further pressure brought an own goal, LMS never gave up their task, but Bronte were too sharp for them and added further goals from Lee Bilborough, Carl Hartas and Niall Walls to stretch their lead to three points.

Sutton moved into second place when they pushed Barnoldswick United down the table following a very tight game. Strong defences cut out most scoring chances and the only goal of the game came when Gary Hanson headed home Alan Robertson's cross.

Silsden Reserves moved up into third place after an away victory over Addingham Reserves. Silsden lost the services of Steve Whitaker after 10 minutes with a broken leg, they reorganised and Silsden settled down and Stuart Lidbury opened the scoring. Addingham looked dangerous on the break, but lacked the final ball and fell further behind when substitute Adam Hook made it 2-0.

Silsden remained in control in the second half despite some lively attacks from Addingham and once Peter Dawson had scored a third the points were in the bag for Silsden.

At the bottom end of the table Cowling Reserves moved off bottom spot when they collected a point from their match with Horton.

Cowling started well, spending a lot of time in Horton's half without scoring. But it was the North Ribblesdale team which opened the scoring and took a 1-0 lead into the break. Early in the second half Cowling conceded a second goal, but were fired up to pull a goal back through Martin Rishton.

Constant pressure saw them equalise with a Darren Hurt goal and although both sides threw caution to the wind in the search for a winner they had to settle for a draw.

Lothersdale Athletic kept up with the leaders in Division Three after a hard won victory over Intake Reserves. Both sides played some excellent football, creating chances at both ends, but the game was still without a goal at half time.

Dale settled won in the second half and eventually took the lead through Thomas Richardson and followed up with a second minutes later. Intake tried to get back in t he match, but opportunities were wasted and Lothersdale were grateful for the two points which leave them level with the leaders, but with two matches in hand.

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